Paradise High girls basketball team routs Foothill

PARADISE — Down two starters and fresh off a 10-point loss on the road to Division V foe Durham two weeks ago, the Paradise High girls basketball team was looking for answers.

"I honestly think we thought we were a better team and kind of got a little cocky," Paradise sophomore guard/forward Bailey Bengson said.

The two-time defending Northern Section Division III champ would soon find its niche, even with the loss of another starter Thursday night at home against Foothill, after senior post Michaela Mundt was forced out of the lineup after having her wisdom teeth removed.

The Bobcats weren't bothered one bit by the loss of Mundt, fellow senior post Ariel Echeberry or junior point guard Mary Hansen and got it done for the sixth time in the last eight games, 44-25 over Foothill, Paradise's D-III rival in the postseason, to go into winter break riding a ton of confidence.

"I think that with all the losses we realized we'd have to step up to get the opportunity to play," said Bengson, who finished with a game-high 13 points and six rebounds against the Cougars (4-6). "It shows we have a very deep team."

While Paradise (8-5) played almost everyone left on its roster Thursday, there were without question just three stars: Bengson was the biggest surprise, as she's just a sophomore and first-year varsity player, while senior forward Jessica Jackson and senior guard Whitney Hanson continued to do what they do to keep Paradise winning games. Jackson delivered 12 points, including several inside buckets after Foothill had cut it to its closest deficit at 17-10 late in the second quarter. Hanson, meanwhile, tied Foothill senior Ashley Rothmann for the most 3-pointers with 3 long-range bombs and a team-high 11 points.

"The way we were coming together through adversity is kind of special," Paradise coach Elwood Hansen said. "That's going to make us stronger once we get into league and once we get our girls back."

Hansen said Paradise will take a few days off for Christmas before getting back in the gym where it'll be at nearly full strength to prepare for the West Coast Jamboree, beginning Dec. 27 in the Bay Area.

"We are going to get Michaela and Mary back in the Bay Area, so I couldn't be happier right now," he said.